Mick Fleetwood On Christine McVie: ‘I’m Extremely Honored For Her To Have Been In My Life’

Melisa KarakasJanuary 14, 20235 mins read

Losing a bandmate is always challenging, but dear Christine McVie was more than just a bandmate for Mick Fleetwood. Recently, during the ceremony of McVie’s celebration of life, the drummer paid tribute to his late friend with a eulogy, also shared on Instagram, discussing their decades-long friendship, their bond, and being one another’s family.

“This is what I presented on Monday, January 9, 2023, at the Celebration of Life for Christine McVie in Malibu, CA, where the band members, with their/our personal family and extended family of Fleetwood Mac, gathered,” wrote Fleetwood before sharing his eulogy. “It was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman and an incredible talent.”

He continued, “I wrote this for Chris [the] night after she passed away. For Chris. This is the day where my dear, sweet friend Christine McVie has taken flight and left us Earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that ‘songbird.’ Reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us.”

Mick thanked everyone for coming to the ceremony and celebrating McVie’s life. The rocker said, “Part of my heart has flown away today… I will miss everything about you, Christine McVie. Memories abound; they fly to me. Thank you for coming today as we celebrate the incredible life of our sweet Christine…”

When the band learned they might lose Chris, they got together quickly and hoped they wouldn’t lose her. Fleetwood recalled, “So when we first learned that we might be losing Christine, there was an immediate coming together of everyone in the band and the Fleetwood Mac family with the hope and possibility that we would not lose Chris.”

McVie has been an essential part of the drummer’s life and family. Mick noted, “And now, since the loss of Christine, we are all still trying to come to terms with the fact she has really flown away. In this moment in time, we celebrate her life, all together here today, to help with our healing. I’ve been blessed to be a part of a family that created a safe place for Chris and the band’s music to unfold. I am extremely honored for her to have been in my family’s life for over 55 years.”

“Amy, Lucy, Ruby, and Tessa. My four beautiful daughters and extended family grew up sharing life with Christine,” he further continued. “We all love and miss her so much already. The other day when John [McVie] and I were sitting together and not knowing how to come to terms with the loss of Christine, I blundered into a powerful word. I said, ‘John, it’s the enormity of it all!’”

Fleetwood mentioned how modest Chris had been. The rocker recalled, “The enormity of our loss, the enormity of her passion, the enormity of her talents, and her unshakable sense of grace in the way she handled life’s challenges; I think she would have been truly amazed at all the attention and celebrations of her music around the world and in total disbelief at the fact they were closing down sporting events to pay tribute to her.”

“But that was our Christine,” concluded Mick Fleetwood rephrasing her lyrics.“She was a North country girl from beginning to end, never caring about the fluff. Again, it was our Christine who gifted so much to millions around the world. She is being remembered everywhere. Just as her song says, ‘I want to be with you everywhere,’ and she is.”

The drummer then thanked the Fleetwood Mac family. He said, “It’s with a sense of gratitude and thanks to the Fleetwood Mac family that we are part of, and losing of such a magical component has sparked a celebration of what Christine means to us. We all miss her as a family member, as a friend, an artist, a performer, and, God knows, a writer of excellence. And those years sharing life together will always be remembered.”

Mick then honored his speech with a poem. “I have a poem I want to end with. It is an ancient Sanskrit poem I have next to my bed that was given to me by my mother. ‘Look well to this day. For it is life. The very best of life. In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence. The joy of growth. The splendor of action. The glory of power, for yesterday, is but a memory, and tomorrow is only a vision.’”

The poem continued, “But today, if well lived, makes every yesterday a memory of happiness. And every tomorrow, a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day.” Mick Fleetwood finished his words by expressing “Eternal love for Christine and gratitude.”

So, it’s apparent how important Christine McVie has been to the Fleetwood Mac bandmates and friends. Mick, especially, noted that they’ve become a family over the years they’ve shared as bandmates and friends and how much of an incredible human being and talent McVie was.